“Another Outbreak”

By now, all of us are aware of the severity of COVID- 19 and probably exhausted from the anxiety of it all. While I don’t want to add to the stress, CHEO is currently dealing with an outbreak of another virus, unrelated to COVID-19. Three children have contracted chicken pox. The outbreak began after one child contracted the virus in the community and was admitted to the hospital for other reasons, the children’s hospital in Ottawa said. The child then developed a rash. “Two other children were subsequently infected,” a news release from CHEO read. The common childhood illness typically includes red, spotty lesions over the body and a mild fever. Safety precautions are in place and the families of children who may have been exposed to the virus have been notified, the hospital said. Chickenpox is often most contagious one to two days before the rash develops and up to five days after the rash appears or until the lesions begin to crust over, according to Ottawa Public Health. The virus is often mild in children but more serious in pregnant women, adults who have never had the virus, or those with compromised immune systems. The hospital is reminding parents to vaccinate their children “for all preventable childhood infectious diseases”. This time is very critical, and we all need to stand together to fight against it. This time is not to fight, rather it is to be with one another, take consideration of all the essential protocols to fight against all the challenges that come near us. Keeping this in mind, we must comprehend that our health and safety lies in our hands. Ensuring that we wear a mask and gloves when going outside or when we are near a group of people is essential. Keeping at least a 2 meter distance is also very essential when we are near a group of people. We must not give hope, there will be a change in our circumstances, and we are the ones who can make a change. #Let’s Bring A Change.